New Bike weekend, the time to Slay the trails.

Well that was a fun end of work day... I've now got 3 days down in Sussex with my bike and some spare time 🙂 So i thought i'd tick off a few jobs.. My mate brought the bike back after borrowing it for Dyfi and i wasn't massively happy with the dropper... I've not been happy for a month but i then forget.. So off came the dropper post and a new inner installed.
I then remembered the rear wheel had some play... Was it frame or wheel.. Mmmmmmm. So i threw in a spare 29er wheel and checked. Yup, wheel bearings. I'd not worked on a DT Swiss hub before so a bit of it was remembering what little doo-dahs go where, what spacers, the circlip and anything else. It felt like the freehub bearings, so i swapped those first... Nope, they were fine... they were 6802s
Checked the bearing spares and i had a set of the 6902s as well.. So off they went... well sort of !!! the spacer in there was pretty damn stuck that's for sure... Took a fair few hammers that did... But soon it was out and some new ones pressed in...

Did that cure it...

Yeah it did... So we're happy.

I had a minor moment of crazy again yesterday and ordered another Float X shock.

Why... well, i was still somewhat curious.

It arrived quickly and happily. It was set to 62.5mm stroke but it's 3-4 mins work to put to 65mm which is correct for the bike.

Once i'd fitted the hardware, i configured the Shockwiz and went out for 35 mins... It was drizzley so not exactly perfect, but you know by now when it's time for testing something, it's got to be done right away.

I don't know how as it's only 400gr lighter on the bike which is really a small amount but it does instantly feel more spritely... I took it only to the local simple stuff as work would have got in the way if i'd gone longer, but it gave me some info on Shockwiz to work from

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53021352452_fe674e13bc_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53021352452_fe674e13bc_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oMjhRb ]Screenshot_2023-07-04-13-01-37-916_com.sram.shockwiz[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

Which in simple terms is a pretty decent start point... It also felt really good out there, so i'm going to run it for a while and see.

Air shocks do feel that way, it's not the weight, more how the air spring works Vs a coil. It's a bit like an air shock will never feel as plush as a coil. You'll never truly have it both ways so you need to decide what works best for you.

Out on the Slayer all morning yesterday. Due to being bored at home I decided to leave early and ride to the meeting point, it was about 11 miles.
We then did a fast ride with lots of woods, trails, lanes, nettles and brambles, but it was awesome. The bike is feeling just superb at the moment and me and it are about as gelled as I've been with a bike. Handling is spot on, poppy jumpy stuff is excellent.
Massive internal debate with myself as to whether I race Southern Enduro next weekend, but I often come out of the races feeling like I'm wasting my time as I'm propping up the back end. So it's £50 for a battle for last. Ok, last time was 4/7 but I think even that was somewhat fortunate.
2 hours into ride we got monsooned on which drenched us all head to toe. This then scuppered my plan of jumping in Crusts car to head for beers. So instead, I had to ride home as well. Ouch. One of the hills was a chore I can tell you.

All in all it was over 40 miles riding time, but was superb.

https://flic.kr/p/2oNofSR

Jeeeez that was a bit of a trauma.... 😀

I've spent 3 days in the last few weeks trying to get out the 4 bearings at the back of the chainstay.

They're 2 back-to-back bearings with a small spacer between them. They sit almost flush to eachother and in a tricky position to remove.

I bought one of these in the right size, but have failed more than once.

[img] [/img]

Today i had a spare few mins so went at it again... many few mins later and they're all out... more luck than skill possibly, but i thought "they've got to come out one day to be replaced" so needed to get them somehow.

Was then out for a quick pedal round the trails.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53037790777_3c20bca95a_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53037790777_3c20bca95a_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oNLxoz ]IMG_20230711_133628[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

Well, sort of trails... mostly you couldn't even see where the trails start or end 😀

tingle tingle legs now.

I'm curious where you live (not as in a give me your address/stalker way!) as you look to be in fairly modest terrain.  Aside from the enduros, most of the photos you post of the Slayer seem to show "rolling hills" in the background.   So, comparing stats and in a top trumps style hill rating, my last ride was 13.21 miles and that comprised 1,706 ft elevation gain.  Benchmark round here (Calderdale) is 1,000ft of elevation for every 10miles (unless you stay on the canal towpath).  What sort of numbers do you contend with razzing around on the Slayer?

Obvs, lots of steep ups round here means lots of nadgery descents!

The reality is, the Slayer is what most people would say is completely the wrong bike for my riding. People say, "buy the bike for 90% of your riding". The fact is, mine is the right bike for 10-15% of mine. But the problem is, that 10-15% is the important part 🙂

Every 10 miles i'd say maybe 350-450ft of elevation would be about right. Mate of mine did 230m which is what say 600ft in 17km yesterday. Weekend from another mate was 450ft in 26km....

I live in West Berks. I could in reality stick in more elevation, but it's really not a hilly place.

So yeah, you're not wrong... but it cracks on at a decent pace 🙂 Saturdays ride even with some woods sections seems to have been 11mph average and that wasn't completely crazy, 90% offroad and some decent trails.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53039038259_90209287ee_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53039038259_90209287ee_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oNSWdT ]IMG_20230711_140745[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

rolling hills indeedy 🙂

Out today and just really wasn't on it at all. Couldn't get things 'right'.

I need to go again tomorrow as i'm wondering if it was just me or whether the air shock really is more suited to different riding. I've had it on for trails, but they're more trails rather than closer to 'enduro'... Today was on the tracks i know well at our local riding, but it's more Enduro than the Ridgeway for example. 🙂
So i do wonder if swapping for the more bumpy days to the coil is necessary.

Or, of course there's the possibility i was just on a rubbish day

Went out this morning early doors, there's a dad-gap and then into root fest at our local spot. I've not hit the roots in about 50 runs, i always go low and avoid them, but my lad has been telling me how much quicker the straighter root line is... but last night, as always i bottled it.

So this morning i went with the intention of hitting the roots. There was a secondary purpose which was trying the coil shock on the runs i rode last night. I wasn't quite on form last night and i was wondering if it was just me or a bit of the air shock too.

So i did a few full runs and first run i avoided it... Second run i started on the back of the gap and rolled gently into the roots, went OK. Then i went 10m further back for a bit more speed and did it again, went OK again, so finally on the next few runs i did full trails and hit it both times at 'race' speed... race being completely a relative term for an old fat bloke of course.. but was still at 'my' speed. It was all good, even a little pop on root1 can make it a bit cleaner.

What i did notice on the rest of the trail though is that the coil is a gazilion times better than the air on tech. Even though i've set the air up the best i can now, it's still not even close in terms of tech. I was hitting a few of the braking bump areas which have worn in in the last few months, but today they didn't really exist or bother me at all. Super happy.

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53059099140_593f61d5e9_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53059099140_593f61d5e9_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2oQDKC9 ]IMG_20230720_093143[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

Coil is way better for roots. Even just a daft test like dropping your back wheel from a foot up in the air with no weight on the coil just sticks, the air shock bounces. There’s a trail in the Mendips that’s a bit bumpy on air, but on coil I can ride it totally like a smooth blue flow trail. Other than weight I don’t think there’s anything my float x does better than my Kitsuma coil.

Other than weight

Yeah weight really and in some ways 'feel' in terms of feeling more sprightly. The air just feels a bit more 'get up and go' rather than plush and planted.

https://flic.kr/p/2oWHgL6

Idyllic ride out today, beers, tuna, trails, mud, laughs and gap jumps. What's not to like

https://flic.kr/p/2oX6RYg

Today showed me something important, I'm not 30 any more.

After a fast paced ride on Saturday chasing [smention u=84]crust[/smention] on his ebike I had today off and Mrs Weeksy wanted to spend time with the boy so 9am I went out riding. With a few aims, plans and goals in mind. Within 2 miles I knew it'd be a tough one, the legs were just not recovered from the last week, especially Sat ride.

However I still stuck in the best part of 50 miles on the Slayer today, it was only 50% or so off-road but my favourite trail locally of Grims Ditch from Nuffield to Wallingford, there are parts designated as footpath only but being a rebellious MTBer means I don't much care. From there it was over to Didcot way, then Harwell to meet the wife and boy and finally a slog back from Harwell which really wasn't my best moment lol.
I felt old old old by the last few miles. But 6 hours out even with allowing for stops, is still 6 hours. It was epic fun, loved it

What you need is.... a new bike! You need an xc bike - 50 miles would be much better on one of those, that Slayer must be hard work!

Tbh it's remarkably good at it. I think it weighs in about 15kg now, even with Minion/Assegai tyres, which is decent enough. If the xc side of things mattered more I'd just throw lighter wheels and tyres as spares instead. But the reality is, 90% of spare income goes on the lad and racing, anything for me is secondary at best, well, not even secondary in truth.

I don't want or need a different bike though and it's very very rarely I say that.

Fair enough - it was mainly a flippant remark, but I am proud that I've drawn the comment out 'I don't need or want a new bike'!!!

50 miles is a decent run. I did a 19.5 miler yesterday, pretty much entirely off road and that took in 2,674ft elevation gain.   That’s on a carbon 140mm travel trail bike. I would not have wanted to drag that slayer around!

Yeah Strava spat out it's dummy 3 times so I don't even know exactly how far or high. It tells me the first 35km was 450m of elevation but that's about all I'm getting from it. I rarely use Strava so I'm not bothered, it was only because I was planning a decent jaunt I though I'd put it on.
We did quite a bit last week with BPW, walking at Barry and then chasing the eeb on Sat for 20+ miles, so I'm not unhappy with today at all. It was really only a few times I felt I was struggling to get the power down.
The Grims Ditch descent made it worthwhile though anyway, it's an awesome trail that.

Was out working on my riding with the boy today. Well, trying to. We were hitting the final jump on the usual trail, it's a variation on the trail but mostly the same. It's a table/semi-gap, but you can hit/roll/pop it whatever way without any major worry.
I just can't get out of the corner hard enough though to clear it... No matter what i do mid/into it, i come out a bit too slow, mostly because i'm feathering the brakes when i should be off them, but i can't for the life of me NOT brake a bit...

It's something i massively need to work and improve upon. But as for HOW.... i don't honestly know. He's giving me technique/body position tips, but time and time again i struggle to implement them.

Grip the bars without a finger on the brakes. Also practice riding some trails and deliberately don't pedal, focus on pumping and braking less to maintain speed. If you don't allow yourself to pedal out of a corner then it helps focus your mind more on braking less, line choice, pumping etc. It can be quite good fun as you start looking at a familiar trail in a very different way if you're looking for speed without being able to pedal.

Grip the bars without a finger on the brakes.

You know what, i was tempted to try this, but yesterday ran out of time... I'm not sure i can manage it, but it's deffo something to try 🙂

Also practice riding some trails and deliberately don’t pedal, focus on pumping and braking less to maintain speed. If you don’t allow yourself to pedal out of a corner then it helps focus your mind more on braking less, line choice, pumping etc. It can be quite good fun as you start looking at a familiar trail in a very different way if you’re looking for speed without being able to pedal.

I do this at various places yes and at times i can indeed help me a bit.. but some corners (like this particular one) i still just can't 'rail' in the right way. It's not like i need an extra 10mph... but i do feel i need 2-3mph somehow.

Trying to hit 'the road gap' at our local spot. Trying to move higher and higher up the hill and stay off the brakes to get further.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53170615548_b9f00c43f5_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53170615548_b9f00c43f5_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2p1viyQ ]IMG-20230907-WA0001[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

Currently landing where my bar is on the ground... but i need another 3' really....

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53170327679_68b15e04ce_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53170327679_68b15e04ce_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2p1tPZz ]IMG-20230907-WA0004[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

How... well that is the $64,000 question !

More speed mate, i reckon.

Absolutely agree. Or some pop. But I have balls the size of peanuts when this sort of stuff is involved, I can get loads more speed due to steep run in, but doing it and not dragging the brakes is the tough part.
I'm going to focus on this jump for a few weeks when time allows to see if I can get it, maybe with some help from the boy.
But we're away a lot this month so will be tricky.

Jumps aint my thing either, I'm too much of a chicken.

I usually get a tow in if I'm unsure of it

I'm pretty sure on it now, it's about 3'-3'6 on vertical face drop, so pretty much there in terms of height for me. I've done a few 4' height but I don't think any bigger. I can get over it comfortably but getting to the actual downslope of it and clearing the full path is currently beyond me. I put in 12-15 goes this morning, but had to shoot back to work

So i'm thinking of re-visiting the Trek Fuel ex9.8

Slight variation as it's this one which is slightly newer and a different colour

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3732070/

When i went to the Slayer the thoughts were that if i go to Dyfi etc it'll be something of a comfort blanket and a bit of an extra margin for me hitting bigger things... The reality is, that's not really worked out in truth, i'm just not capable of utilising it's benefits so i end up riding mostly the same as always. Sure, i've got faster in the last year, but i don't think any of the bikes have massively influenced the improvements i've had.
So the thoughts are to go back to a bit of a faster flyer, bit lighter, easier and quicker to do the sort of stuff i do more often.

Oh lord, here we go 😉

Well it has been 11 months 😀

Can't keep a bike for a full year now can we ? 😉

"Can you buy skill?

ChatGPT

You can invest time and effort into developing skills through education, practice, and experience. This might involve taking courses, attending workshops, reading books, or gaining hands-on experience in a particular field. In some cases, you might also hire a tutor or mentor to help you acquire specific skills more efficiently.

However, it's important to note that while you can invest in learning and developing skills, you can't directly "buy" skill in the sense of purchasing it like a commodity. Skill acquisition typically requires dedication, persistence, and often a financial investment in education or training resources."

😉

That black n gold is nice 🙂

Yeah looks nice... i quite like it. He's got GX gearing on there which i prefer over Shimanos as well as what look like CODE RSC brakes, again which i really like. So as long as there's nothing glaringly bad about it i think there's a deal to be done here.

I did a load of Red and tech at Hopton on Sat and it kinda highlighted to me riding the Liv (with new 36s) that the Slayer isn't the difference between me getting down things. It's all on me... LOL.

Can’t keep a bike for a full year now can we ?

Yes. Yes you can.

😂

Yes. Yes you can

You're being silly now 🙂

Current bikes:

26 years
6 years (10yo frame)
5 years

😉

There's a username to live up to. Can't have it changing to yearsy or monthsy, can we.

Went over to a mates last night and stole his Fuel EX8 for a day or 2. His is the ML, the one i'm dealing with is an L (i've had the L previously) and took his to the woods this morning for a pre-work/breakfast run or 3.. Really enjoyed it once i'd got it set up for my preferences and i'd swear it rolls quicker than the Slayer. Either way though, i'm happy after riding it that i'll get on the 9.8 and enjoy it 😀

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53233798875_1d141fde96_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53233798875_1d141fde96_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2p768Lx ]IMG_20231004_085648[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url], on Flickr

So we'll see if the deal comes off on Friday.